"They said what!" Anakin exclaimed, his voice echoing the living room.
"Shhh, don't talk so loudly, or you will wake Shmi," Obi-Wan told him looking worried toward her bedroom. "You heard correctly. They said I have to get a woman pregnant or I will lose my positions as councillor and teacher," he repeated with a calm voice, as if he was discussing the weather and not the end of his career.
"They cannot be serious!" Anakin hissed, trying to control both the volume of his voice and his shock. He stood up from the divan they were sitting on and started pacing.
"I am afraid they are."
Anakin brushed back a lock of his hair that had fallen on his brow and came to a halt in front of Obi-Wan, who looked up at him with expectation.
"You know I have always admired the Jedi, and meeting you and coming to work at the Temple has only reinforced my opinions of the Order. However, I must admit that since the day the Code has been changed, some of the Jedi have done their best—or their worst—to ruin the image I have of them. First Master Muln shows a close-minded attitude that doesn't suit well with what you told me about the all compassionate Jedi. Then the padawans, knights and even the masters in the Temple started looking at me as if I have grown two heads, probably because of the rumours about us. Finally, the leaders of the Council come out with the most idiotic thing I ever heard! They threaten one of their most loyal and accomplished members because he dared to fall in love with someone of the wrong sex!" Anakin glared at Obi-Wan for a moment, then dropped to sit at his side and continued with a softer tone. "I am sorry you have to undergo all of this, Obi-Wan. Everything would be so much easier for you if I were a woman."
"But you are not, young one, and I would never want you to be one. You are perfect as you are," Obi-Wan's hand rose to caress the back of Anakin's head, before he wrapped an arm around his lover's broad back and pulled him to lean against his side.
"What are you going to do?" Anakin asked quietly, as he rested his head on Obi-Wan's shoulder.
"What I have always done: I will follow the will of the Force and I won't betray my beliefs."
"Then you are going to let them expel you from the Council and take away your classes?"
Obi-Wan sighed. "If it is what the Force wants…If we arrive to this, I will ask to be assigned on permanent duty at some of the minor Jedi temples scattered in the galaxy, on some planet where people are more open minded and we won't be pointed at. Or maybe I will leave the Order for good, start some enterprise with you. What about 'Kenobi & Skywalker, shipping and trading Co.'?"
Anakin chocked a sob. "You cannot really mean it," he said softly, but Obi-Wan did not reply. "I won't let you do it."
Anakin knew that his lover, while not completely serious, was not joking either. He felt honoured by the love and the unselfishness of his mate, and he was ready to follow him anywhere, but did not wish for them to arrive at that point.
Obi-Wan emblazoned all that was good and honest in the galaxy. Anakin had thought it from the first time he had spotted the mysterious stranger staring at him in the Mos Espa market.
He was the perfect Jedi, the perfect balance between diplomat, religious man and warrior. He incarnated all the virtue the Order tried to instil in its members and Anakin could not allow him to ruin his career or, worse, resign. Obi-Wan was born to be a Jedi, it was part of what he was, and the younger man knew a part of him would die, should he feel forced to leave.
But it won't happen, Anakin thought, I won't allow it.
There was a way out of that mess, and all he had to do was to convince his stubbornly loyal mate to take it.
Anakin straightened and slid down the divan, coming to rest on his knees in front of Obi-Wan. It was the same position he had been in when he had professed his love for the older man for the first time, in that humble hovel in the Jungland Wastes. And just like that day, he took both of Obi-Wan's hands in his own before speaking, his eyes locked with his lover's.
"Obi-Wan," he began, "an evening any months ago, you told me I didn't have to feel ashamed that I was a whore, because the circumstances had forced my hand, and I had to do what had to be done. You never held it against me. It's the same now. You must do what you have to do. I won't feel jealous or betrayed should you have sex with a woman to give the Council the child of your loins they so obviously want. I wouldn't think less of you if you bent to their will. But I know I would never want to be the cause of you leaving the Jedi," Anakin hung his head and swallowed hard.
There was a rustle of clothes as Obi-Wan too kneeled on the carpet, their hands still joined.
Obi-Wan's voice was soft, but very firm when he spoke. "Anakin, I really appreciate your concern, and I know you are serious when you say you would not feel betrayed—it is typical of your generous nature. Still, I cannot do what Mace and Yoda want. Call me an old romantic fool or an idealist, but I don't want to share my body with a stranger. You know I had never been with anyone when we first made love, and my body was my gift to you. Many a time, in the past, I have been tempted to let go on my control, and have a bit of pleasure as I was aware other knights did now and then. But I always resisted, for it never felt right—until that night in your house. That night I was so nervous but also happy to be able to give you something nobody else had ever had. It was my gift to you, Anakin Skywalker, and still is. I cannot share it with a stranger, not even with your blessing. Do you understand?"
Anakin nodded wordlessly, not trusting his voice. He had sensed the conviction, the love and devotion in the older man's voice, and he knew there was no way he could now insist Obi-Wan do his 'duty'. He had no right. The Council had no right.
"So what we do now?" he murmured, once he had his voice under control.
"What do we do now? Tomorrow, you will leave as scheduled for Kashyyyk, while I will go on with my usual duties. Should Yoda and Mace raise the topic again, I would ask them to postpone any action until after your return, so that we can make a decision together. As for the rest, I told you what we will do: we will follow the will of the Force," Obi-Wan smiled, his eyes clear and serene in spite of everything.
Anakin nodded. Yes, the Force, that mysterious thing Obi-Wan could sense so clearly while he was barely able to glimpse it now and then, when he was patient enough to join his lover in some light, shared meditation. That all-powerful Force that Obi-Wan insisted had led him to Tatooine and Anakin. That Force he now fervently hoped would listen to his prayers.
Oh blessed Force, Anakin thought, closing his eyes, help him! Don't let something so unfair befall over one of your most loyal servants. He has already suffered enough. Help him. Help me. Help us to find a way out from this difficult moment- Anakin's heartfelt prayer was interrupted by the feel of Obi-Wan's calloused hand caressing his cheek.
Anakin opened his eyes and met his lover's. They were bright and smoky-grey.
"I need you, Anakin," Obi-Wan said throatily, dropping his shields to let his lover feel the need and the desire mounting in him.
Anakin's passion stirred at once, rising to match his lover's as fast as never before.
"As I need you, Obi-Wan," he answered, leaning forward.
Their heads moved together and they kissed, first gently, than with more ardour, teeth clashing and tongues duelling against each other.
They stood up and disrobed, as they moved toward Anakin's bedroom, leaving behind a trail of clothes.
By the time they reached the bed, they were naked and highly aroused. Anakin put his hands on Obi-Wan's shoulders and pushed him down, making him sit on the edge of the mattress, before he knelt between the older man's spread legs. Anakin trailed a line of kisses on Obi-Wan's inner right thigh, from his knee to his groin, before nuzzling against the hard flesh he found there. The musky scent welcoming him made his head reel and his mouth water in anticipation.
Anakin started licking Obi-Wan's shaft from base to tip, with long, smooth strokes pressing against the prominent vein on the underside, and shorter, pointed touches against the tip and its slit, taking the time to taste the pre-come he found there.
His hands were not still either. The left one kneaded the muscles of Obi-Wan's left thigh, while the right one played with his balls, cupping and caressing them, before his fingers moved past them to circle the older man's opening.
Obi-Wan moaned aloud, his fingers gripping the bedspread as Anakin used all the tricks he had learned in the past to torment his swollen flesh for long moments, until he judged it was the time to pass to other, ever more enjoyable pursuits.
Anakin let go of Obi-Wan's erection and sat back on his heels, watching with wicked satisfaction as his lover struggled to control his breath. He loved those moments in which he was in control and able to do to Obi-Wan everything he wanted. In the past, even when he was domineering with his clients, it was under their explicit or implicit request. Now, instead Anakin was free to follow his desire and his heart—and he fully took advantage of it.
When Obi-Wan was again in control of himself, Anakin rose to his knees and pulled his lover's head down for a hard kiss, giving the older man a faint taste of himself, then climbed on the bed and stretched out, arms and legs spread.
"Come on, Obi-Wan, I need you," he whispered, looking at his lover from behind his half-lowered eyelids.
Obi-Wan scooted up the mattress and lost no time in lowering his slender, compact body atop of Anakin, the feel of the rock hard erection pressed against his belly wrenching a moan from Anakin's lips.
Then, Obi-Wan lowered his head and crushed Anakin's mouth in a heavy, passionate kiss.
His lips were hot and hard, taking, commanding, never pleading, his tongue demanding entrance, then thrusting deeply into his mouth, ravaging, possessive.
When Obi-Wan finally broke the kiss both of them were panting heavily. Anakin's heart hammered wildly and before he could get his wind back, Obi-Wan shifted above him, sliding down his body, resting his arousal in the cradle formed by the juncture of the younger man's thighs.
He was hard and hot and Anakin reacted on instinct, spreading his legs even more and arching against him, silently urging his lover to take him-- but Obi-Wan had other ideas.
He brought his warm right hand to Anakin's chest, and fingered his nipples, circling them before pinching them. Anakin cried out, and he dug his fingers in the hard muscles of Obi-Wan's back.
The Jedi lowered his head and took one of his lover's nipples in his mouth, lips closing on it as his tongue swirled around the nub. Then, he sucked and Anakin thought he was going to die. He was very sensitive there, and Obi-Wan knew it—all too well.
Soon Anakin was moaning and wriggling beneath Obi-Wan, begging him to stop yet to go on sucking forever, begging him to slow down yet spurring him to hurry up. None of this escaped Obi-Wan, and Anakin could swear he felt his bearded mouth smile against the skin of his chest.
Still sucking, Obi-Wan's hand slid down Anakin's body, his long, calloused fingers finding their way between his legs. They remained there for a moment, exploring, teasing, petting, then there was a pause before Obi-Wan plunged two of his fingers deeply inside Anakin's opening, hooking them as he searched for his prostate.
Anakin screamed and arched against Obi-Wan, inadvertently offering him better access to his chest and allowing his fingers deeper penetration.
Working in a perfect, maddening rhythm, Obi-Wan's mouth continued to torment his upper body while his fingers, moving deeply inside of Anakin, soon had him panting, groaning, and on the brink of coming.
Then, as suddenly as it had begun, the double assault ceased. The mouth and the fingers were removed, as Anakin slumped against the mattress, a sheen of sweat covering his skin.
Eyes closed, he took deep gulps of air, to refill his burning lungs, barely aware of Obi-Wan moving atop of him.
When finally Anakin opened his hooded eyes, it was to find Obi-Wan looking down at him with a smile on his face.
"Two can play the same game, young one," he said hoarsely.
"Yes…you most thoroughly proved your point, Master Jedi…" Anakin's panted. "Now take me and free me from the torment you have caused…"
Obi-Wan laughed softly, before his eyes darkened again with passion.
He grabbed Anakin's knees and raised them high against the younger man's chest, as he positioned himself between them.
Anakin moaned as he felt the tip of Obi-Wan's shaft press against his opening, and raised his arms to take hold of the back of his knees, stretching himself as wide open as possible, desperate to feel his lover's possession.
With a powerful thrust of his hips, Obi-Wan sheathed himself to the hilt inside his young lover and stilled, as Anakin threw back his head and let out a silent scream of pleasure.
For what seemed an eternity they remained there, not moving as if poised at the edge of an abyss that threatened to devour them. Then, slowly, tentatively, they relaxed. Obi-Wan started moving carefully, with long, slow strokes that had him retreating from Anakin's body then plunging deeply into it.
Moaning and groaning, getting more vocal by the moment, Anakin arched his back as much as he could, urging his lover to go deeper and deeper inside, to take him completely, even if he knew Obi-Wan could not go further.
Obi-Wan increased the rhythm of his thrusts and soon he was panting as heavily as Anakin, lost in pleasure.
"Obi-Wan!" Anakin cried as release crashed on him and his body tightened around his lover's, and Obi-Wan came as well, calling out his name. Their bodies writhed, lost in their orgasms for several interminable instants, as Anakin's inner muscles contracted around the spurting organ inside him, milking every drop out of his lover and prolonging their pleasure.
Obi-Wan's muscles gave out, and he collapsed at Anakin's side, just as the younger man let go of his own trembling legs, and let them fall, boneless, to the mattress.
They remained there for a long moment, gasping for air, covered with sweat, exhausted and exhilarated. Then, Obi-Wan turned his back to Anakin and curled on his side. Anakin moved in response, spooning himself behind his smaller lover, cradling him against his body, chest against back, hip to hip, legs intertwined. Anakin put one of his arms around Obi-Wan and kissed the top of his head as they slowly drifted to sleep, their minds joined as intimately as their bodies had been a little while before.